Delphinium plant named ‘ET DLP 824’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Delphinium  plant named ‘ET DLP 824’, characterized by its relatively compact, upright and sturdy plant habit; relatively short internodes; dark green-colored leaves; freely flowering habit; moderately strong to strong flowering stems with dense inflorescences with numerous white-colored flowers; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Delphinium elatum X (Delphinium x belladonna).

Cultivar denomination: ‘ET DLP 824’.

CROSS-REFERENCED TO A RELATED APPLICATION & STATEMENT REGARDING PRIORDISCLOSURES BY INVENTORS/APPLICANTS

This application claims priority to a European Community Plant Breeders'Rights application filed on Oct. 1, 2021, application number 2021/2441.There have been no offers for sale anywhere in the world prior to theeffective filing date of this Application and no accessibility to one ofordinary skill in the art could have been derived from the printed PlantBreeder's Rights documents.

The Inventors/Applicants assert that no publications nor advertisementsrelating to sales, offers for sale or public distribution occurred morethan one year prior to the effective filing date of this application.Any information about the claimed plant would have been obtained from adirect or indirect disclosure from the Inventors/Applicants.Inventors/Applicants claim a prior art exception under 35 U.S.C.102(b)(1) for disclosure and/or sales prior to the filing date but lessthan one year prior to the effective filing date.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofDelphinium plant, botanically known as Delphinium elatum X (Delphinium xbelladonna), typically grown as a perennial garden plant and hereinafterreferred to by the name ‘ET DLP 824’.

The new Delphinium plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventors in Boijl, The Netherlands. The objective ofthe breeding program is to create new strong and freely-floweringDelphinium plants with dense inflorescences and unique and attractiveflower colors.

The new Delphinium plant originated from a cross-pollination in July,2014 of a proprietary selection of Delphinium elatum identified as codenumber 9-88, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with aproprietary selection of Delphinium x belladonna identified as codenumber 102, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The newDelphinium plant was discovered and selected by the Inventors as asingle flowering plant from within the progeny of the statedcross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Boijl, TheNetherlands in July, 2016.

Asexual reproduction of the new Delphinium plant by in vitro meristemculture in a controlled environment in Boijl, The Netherlands, sinceAugust, 2017 has shown that the unique features of this new Delphiniumplant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Delphinium have not been observed under all possiblecombinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. Thephenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditionssuch as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variancein genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘ET DLP 824’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘ET DLP 824’ as a new and distinct Delphiniumplant:

-   -   1. Relatively compact, upright and sturdy plant habit.    -   2. Relatively short internodes.    -   3. Dark green-colored leaves.    -   4. Freely flowering habit.    -   5. Moderately strong to strong flowering stems with dense        inflorescences with numerous white-colored flowers.    -   6. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Delphinium differ primarily from plants of the femaleparent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Delphinium are more compact and shorter        than plants of the female parent selection.    -   2. Flowers of plants of the new Delphinium are white in color        whereas flowers of plants of the female parent selection are        yellowish white in color.

Plants of the new Delphinium differ primarily from plants of the maleparent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Delphinium are taller than plants of the        male parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Delphinium have larger flowers than plants        of the male parent selection.    -   3. Flowers of plants of the new Delphinium are white in color        whereas flowers of plants of the male parent selection are        purple in color.

Plants of the new Delphinium can be compared to plants of Delphiniumelatum X (Delphinium belladona) ‘ET DLP 17-10’, disclosed in U.S. PlantPat. No. 32,993. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the newDelphinium differ primarily from plants of ‘ET DLP 17-10’ in thefollowing characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Delphinium are taller than plants of ‘ET        DLP 17-10’.    -   2. Plants of the new Delphinium have slightly smaller flowers        than plants of ‘ET DLP 17-10’.    -   3. Flowers of plants of the new Delphinium are white in color        whereas flowers of plants of ‘ET DLP 17-10’ are purple violet in        color.

Plants of the new Delphinium can be compared to plants of Delphiniumelatum ‘Flamingo Star’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons,plants of the new Delphinium differ primarily from plants of ‘FlamingoStar’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Delphinium are more compact than plants of        ‘Flamingo Star’.    -   2. Plants of the new Delphinium have stronger flowering stems        than plants of ‘Flamingo Star’.    -   3. Flowering stems of plants of the new Delphinium are branching        whereas flowering stems of plants of ‘Flamingo Star’ are not        branching.    -   4. Flowers of plants of the new Delphinium are white in color        whereas flowers of plants of ‘Flamingo Star’ are pink in color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the Delphinium plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the actualcolors of the new Delphinium plant.

The photograph on the first sheet (FIG. 1) comprises a side perspectiveview of a typical flowering plant of ‘ET DLP 824’ grown in an container.

The photograph on the second sheet (FIG. 2) is a close-up view of atypical inflorescence of ‘ET DLP 824’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Plants used for the following description were grown in 21-cm containersduring the spring and summer in an outdoor nursery in Boijl, TheNetherlands and under cultural practices typical of commercialDelphinium production. During the production of the plants, daytemperatures ranged from 18° C. to 22° C. and night temperatures rangedfrom 10° C. to 16° C. Plants were one year old when the photographs andthe description were taken. In the following description, colorreferences are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart,2001 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionarysignificance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Delphinium elatum X (Delphinium x    belladonna) ‘ET DLP 824’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Delphinium            elatum identified as code number 9-88, not patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Delphinium            x belladonna identified as code number 102, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type of propagation.—In vitro meristem culture.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 12 to 16 days at            temperatures ranging from 15° C. to 21° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 15 to 25 days at            temperatures ranging from 5° C. to 10° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About four            weeks at temperatures ranging from 18° C. to 21° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About five to            six weeks at temperatures ranging from 12° C. to 15° C.        -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; typically            yellowish in color, actual color of the roots is dependent            on substrate composition, water quality, fertilizer type and            formulation, substrate temperature and physiological age of            roots.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; medium density.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant type.—Herbaceous perennial.        -   Plant and growth habit.—Relatively compact, upright and            sturdy plant habit; moderately vigorous to vigorous growth            habit and moderate growth rate; freely branching habit.        -   Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 30 cm            to 35 cm.        -   Plant height, soil level to top of floral plane.—About 80            cm.        -   Plant width.—About 50 cm to 55 cm.        -   Internode length.—About 1.5 cm to 4 cm.        -   Stem strength.—Moderately strong to strong.        -   Stem texture and luster.—Slightly pubescent; semi-glossy to            matte.        -   Stem color.—Close to 143C.-   Leaf description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Single, alternate or slightly whorled towards            the plant base.        -   Leaf length.—About 9 cm to 10 cm.        -   Leaf width.—About 15 cm.        -   Shape.—Palmately lobed with three to five lobes per leaf;            overall leaf shape, roughly ovate.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Cordate.        -   Margin.—Entire and incised; lobes are shallow to moderate            and divergent.        -   Texture and luster, upper surface.—Smooth, glabrous; glossy.        -   Texture and luster, lower surface.—Slightly pubescent; rough            and rugose; matte.        -   Venation pattern.—Palmate.        -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 137B.            Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 138B. Fully            expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 137A; venation,            close to 144C. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close            to 138B; venation, close to 144C.        -   Petioles.—Length: About 2 cm to 9 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm            to 4 mm. Strength: Moderately strong to strong. Texture and            luster, upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent; semi-glossy to            matte. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 144B.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower arrangement and shape.—Double star-shaped flowers            arranged on dense terminal racemes; flowers face mostly            outwardly.        -   Flowering habit.—Freely flowering habit with about 40            flowers developing per inflorescence and more than 500            flowers per plant.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Natural flowering season.—Long flowering period; plants            flower continuously during the spring and summer in The            Netherlands.        -   Flower longevity.—Flowers last about two to three weeks on            the plant; flowers not persistent.        -   Flower buds.—Length: About 1 cm. Diameter: About 5 mm to            8 mm. Shape: Oblong. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous;            slightly glossy to matte. Color: Close to 142A.        -   Inflorescence height.—About 35 cm to 40 cm.        -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 13 cm.        -   Flower diameter.—About 5 cm to 6 cm.        -   Flower height.—About 2.5 cm.        -   Petals.—Quantity and arrangement: About six to nine petals            in whorls; petals imbricate. Length: About 2 cm to 3 cm.            Width: About 1.5 cm to 2 cm. Shape: Roughly obovate to            elliptic. Apex: Acute to obtuse. Base: Attenuate. Margin:            Entire; slightly undulate. Texture and luster, upper and            lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; satiny; matte. Color: When            opening, upper surface: Close to 155B to 155C; central            petals, close to 154D. When opening, lower surface: Close to            155B to 155C. Fully opened, upper surface: Close to 155A;            central petals, close to 154D; venation, close to 155A.            Fully opened, lower surface: Close to 155B to 155C;            venation, close to 155A.        -   Petaloids.—Quantity and arrangement: About three to five            petaloids in a single whorl; petaloids imbricate. Length:            About 2 cm. Width: About 1 cm to 1.5 cm. Shape: Roughly            obovate to elliptic. Apex: Acute to obtuse. Base: Truncate.            Margin: Entire; moderately undulate to undulate. Texture and            luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; satiny;            matte. Color: When opening, upper and lower surfaces: Close            to 155B to 155C. Fully opened, upper surface: Close to 155A;            venation, close to 155A. Fully opened, lower surface: Close            to 155B to 155C; venation, close to 155A and distally, close            to 144C.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 70 cm to 80 cm. Diameter: About            1 cm. Aspect: Erect. Strength: Strong. Texture and luster:            Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color: Close to 144A.        -   Pedicels: Length: About 1.5 cm to 7 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm            to 5 mm. Aspect: About 30° to 45° from peduncle axis.            Strength: Moderately strong. Texture and luster: Smooth,            glabrous; matte. Color: Close to 144B.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: About 25            to 30. Filament length: About 1 mm to 3 mm. Filament color:            Close to 199B. Anther shape: Oblong. Anther length: About 1            mm to 2 mm. Anther color: Close to N199B. Pollen amount:            Abundant. Pollen color: Close to 155C. Pistils: Quantity per            flower: Four to five. Pistil length: About 6 mm to 8 mm.            Stigma diameter: About 1 mm. Stigma shape: Rounded. Stigma            color: Close to 155A. Style length: About 2 mm to 4 mm.            Style color: Close to 155A. Ovary color: Close to 143C.        -   Seeds and fruits.—To date, seed and fruit development have            not been observed on plants of the new Delphinium.-   Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Delphinium    have not been noted to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to    Delphinium plants.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Delphinium have exhibited good    garden performance and to be tolerant to rain, wind and temperatures    ranging from −20° C. to 40° C.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Delphinium plant named ‘ET DLP 824’as illustrated and described.